Razor-stropping device.



J. P. GAU.

RAZOR STROPPING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN.30,1913.

1,063,192., Patented June 3,1913.

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JOSEPH F. GAU, 0F ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

RAZOR-STROPPING- DEVICE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 3,1913.

Application filed January 30, 1913'. Serial No. 745,165.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. GAU, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota,have invented new and useful Improvements in Razor-Stropping Devices, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to razor stropping devices of the class illustratedin my application for patent tiled June 18th, 1912, Serial No. 704,502,in which is disclosed a device for sharpening razors designed to givethe desired diagonal m-ovement to a blade upon a flexible strop andautomatically rotate the blade to reverse it at the beginning of eachstroke.

It is the object of my present invention to provide an improved deviceof this kind including yielding means to prevent impact between thecutting edge of the blade and strop as the former is reversed and alsoto prevent damage to said strop by said edge in case the blade-reversingmechanism fails to operate.

A further object is to provide a blade holder' adapted to receivevarious types ano sizes of blades, in conjunction with adjustable meansfor limiting the throw of` said holder to accommodate such diverseblades to the razor strop.

A further object is to provide in a device of this kind a springactuated jaw for gripping a strop and means for adjusting the tension ofthe spring.

A further object is to provide a razor stropping device of this classhaving its parts easily separable and designed to be knocked down andcontained within a small case.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved device shownduring its upward stroke on a strop; Fig. 2 is also a plan view with theblade holder removed and portions broken away to illustrate inclosedparts; Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the same; Fig.A is a plan view ot the blade holder open to receive a blade, and Fig. 5includes end views and a sectional view of said blade holder.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, have used the referencenumeral 19 to indicate the hand grip, which consists of a hollowsegmental base 11 and a cover 12 therefor. The bar 13 is pivotallymounted within the grip and is formed, at its forward end with bearingposts 14 and 15, said post 141; being provided at its top with a knurledfinger piece 1G. The post 111 is arranged adjacent to the curved edge 17of said grip and the post 15 protrudes through the curved slot 18 in thecover 12 thereof. A curved rack 19 is mounted on the cover 12 betweenthe curved edge 17 and slot 18. The shaft 20, revoluble in said posts 14and 15, is provided at its forward end with a detachable razor bladeholder 21 and carries a gear wheel 22 in mesh with said rack 19.Protruding from the end of the bar 13 is a guide 23 adapted tofrictionally engage one strop of the ordinary double strop, and whensaid hand grip is moved longitudinally ot the strop, the bar 13 assumesdiagonal positions with respect to the strop and grip, (one positionbeing illustrated in Fig. 1,) as the blade holder 21 applies the bladeto the strop. I have provided means for stopping the throw of the bar ineither direction to thereby limit the turning of the blade holder. Thesemeans consist or' a set screw 24 threaded in each side of the base 11.These screws are adjusted to limit the stroke of the bar 13 and todetermine the position of the holder 21 at the end of such stroke, thusinsuring the proper angle of said holder for blades of various widths,with reference to the surface of the strop. I have also provided meansfor retarding the motion of the bar 13 at the end of each stroke tothereby prevent the impact or slap of the cutting edge of the bladeagainst the strop. These means consist of a spring bar 25 rigidlysecured to the rear end of the bar 13, the tree end of said spring beingadapted to play between and engage the ends of the set screws 2Garranged in the transverse threaded bores 27 of said hand grip.

The guide 23, which protrudes from the forward end of the bar 13comprises an upper jaw 28 and a lower jaw 2S. The upper jaw 28 is fittedwith a shank 30 having a screw driving tip 31 designed to turn the abovementioned stop screws 24 and 2G. This shank is adapted to telescope inthe recess 32 of the bar 13 and is secured ther-ein by frictionalcontact with said bar. The lower jaw 29 is pivoted in the bearing 33 ofthe upper jaw 28 and is fitted with a set screw 3st which abuts againstthe end of a coiled spring 35 arranged between said jaws 28 and 29.Adjustment of this screw increases or diminishes the gripping power ofthe jaws.

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The razor blade holder 21, detachably secured to the outer end of theshaft 20, consists of a gripping sleeve 36, fitted with a set screw 37and terminating at one end in the heel 38. The resilient clamping base39 is secured by frictional engagement within the heel 38, its lowerside being beveled to an edge 40 and its upper side being formed withthe beveled edge 41. The resilient clamping cover 42 is formed withbeveled edges 43 and 44 corresponding respectively with the edges 40 and41 of the clamping bas-e, said base and cover being united at theirforward ends b-y a hinge 45 located in position remote from the edges 40and 43 of said base and cover. The screw 4G, revoluble in the oppositeend of the cover 42, is received by the threaded perforation 47 in thebase 39, said screw being designed to draw said base and cover togetherand clamp a blade between their beveled sides 40 and 43 which, beingresilient, conform to and grip the blade. The edge protector 48, ofleather or other suitable material, is fixed within the base 39 of theholder 2l.

The gear shield 49, inclosing the gear wheel 22 and rack 19, is securedto the cover 12 of the hand grip l0 and its ends 50 form rests for thethumb and index finger of the user.

In operation, a blade is secured within the holder 21 between its hingedcover 42 and base 39. The guide 23 is applied to the lower member of thestrop, and the set screws 24 are adjusted to stop the throw of the bar13 when the heel of the blade holdei1 and the cutting edge of the bladeare flat against the strop. The set screws 26 are adjusted to engage thespring 25 on the bar 13 shortly before said bar reaches the end of itsthrow. After such adjustments are made, the user moves the griplongitudinally along the strop and the holder 21 is automaticallyreversed at the beginning' of each stroke and moved to proper positionwith respect to the upper strop. IVhen it is desired to sharpendifferent styles of blades, it is, of course, necessary to change theadjustment of the screws 24 to secure the flat position of the bladewith reference to the strop.

My improved device is especially advantageous in that no part of themechanism except the blade and blade holder touches the sharpening stropduring operation to interfere with its flexibility or to destroy itssurface. The set screws 24 limit the turning of the blade holder tooperative position and prevent the heel of said holder from ris` ingfrom the strop, and the consequent turning of the cutting edge thereon.The spring 25 prevents injurious impact or slap of the cutting blade onthe strop. This spring also acts to move the bar 13 from the eXtreme endof its stroke and lifts the cutting edge of the blade from the strop,thereby preventing damage to said strop in case the blade is notreversed by operat-ion of the guide. The knurled finger piece furnishesa rigid rest for the thumb of the operator in manipulating the lower jawof the guide. The parts, being easily separable, permit convenientpacking of the same in a small case.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hand grip, acurved rack on said grip, a bar pivoted in said grip, a

'spring carried by said bar, adjustable stops on the grip for engagingsaid spring to retard the movement of said bar near the completion ofits strokes, a shaft revolubly supported on said bar, blade holdingmeans detachably secured to said shaft, a gear on the shaft engagingsaid rack for rotating said shaft to turn said holder and a guideattached to said bar and adapted to frictionally engage a strop.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hand grip, acurved rack on said grip, a bar pivoted in the grip, blocks carried bythe bar and arranged on opposite sides of the rack, a sha-ft revolublein said blocks, blade holding means detachably secured to said shaft, agear on the shaft in mesh with said rack for rotating said shaft to turnthe holder, a shield comprising a guard for said rack and gear andfinger rests for the user, and a guide removably attached to said barand adapted to frictionally engage a strop.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hand grip, acurved rack on said grip, a bar pivoted in the grip, posts carried bythe bar and arranged on opposite sides of the rack, a shaft revoluble insaid posts, blade holding means secured to said shaft, a gear on theshaft in mesh with said rack for rotating said shaft to turn theholder,l a guide removably attached to said bar and adapted tofrictionally engage a strop, and a rest on one of said posts for thethumb of the user.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hand grip, acurved rack on said grip, a bar pivoted in the grip, posts carried bythe bar and arranged on opposite sides of the rack, a shaft revoluble insaid posts, blade holding means detachably secured to said shaft, a gearon the shaft in mesh with said rack for rotating said shaft to turn theholder, a shield comprising a guard for said rack and gear and fingerrests for the user, a guide on said bar adapted to frictionally engage astrop, and a thumb rest secured to one of said posts and overlappingsaid shield.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a razorstrop comprising a pair of flexible members, of a hand grip, a barpivoted in the grip, means for retarding the movement of said bar nearthe completion of its strokes, means supported by said bar for holding arazor blade, and a guide carried by said bar adapted to frietionallyengage one member of said strop, While the razor blade is applied to theother member.

6. In a device of the class described, the

'combination with a razor strop comprising a pair of flexible members,of a hand grip, a bar pivot-ed in the grip, adjustable stops on saidgrip for limiting the throw of said bar, means supported by said bar forholding a razor blade and a Lraide carried by said bar adapted tofriotionally engage one member of said strop, While the razor blade isapplied to the other member.

In testimony whereof., I have signed my name to this speeilioation inthe presence of tivo subscribing` Witnesses.

. JOSEPH F. GAU. Vitnesses:

F. M. HARDY, F. C. CAsWnLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

